Authorities say the attack began when the victim came to Byrge's front porch to argue over money the candidate for the District 56 House seat was allegedly owed for prescription pain pills he had given to the victim's girlfriend.

Byrge is accused of hitting the man in the face with a walking cane. After a brief scuffle, authorities say Byrge then allegedly forced the victim into his house at gunpoint, forcing the man to his knees and the pistol-whipping him repeatedly while saying the man "was going to die."

Witnesses told police that they saw the alleged victim emerge from Byrge's house covered in blood.

Police say that Byrge and his wife also tried to delete text messages detailing the unpaid drug debt.